Creole in the Public Eye: Written Instances of Creole in Public Spaces in Guadeloupe

Abstract

Creole is the maternal language of the majority population of Guadeloupe, but French is the language of education, commerce, government and most written communication. Although the vast majority of Guadeloupians are bilingual and educated exclusively in French, Creole is also found in written form in the public domain in advertising, the public service sector, tourism, graffiti and political posters, among others. This article explores the various domains of written Creole usage with an additional focus upon the purposes and/or motives behind its use. It is argued that Creole is used variously to add local colour, to solidify connections with the creolophone community, to reinforce pride in one’s heritage and identity, and to exclude certain parties from political and social discourse.